WD Reviews: Turkey Gravy

See which store-bought brands boast the best holiday flavor

On Thanksgiving, few traditions are as sacred as the holiday meal. And turkey is just the beginning—it's the trimmings that really make or break the feast. But with pies, potatoes and stuffing galore, you don't always have time to whip up homemade gravy. Jarred gravy to the rescue! While it may never taste quite like homemade, it's a delicious pinch-hitter when you're pressed for time in those final minutes before the big feast. WD put several popular contenders up to a blind taste test to see whose recipe was worth gobbling up. Read on to check out our favorites.

Score: 3.5 out of 5What WD had to say: Despite a "thinner consistency" and a taste that was a "little salty" for some, this gravy scored the highest reviews thanks to its "smooth texture" and "good turkey flavor." Several testers remarked that it was the "closest to homemade."

Score: 2.5 out of 5What WD had to say: Some reviewers found the flavor to be bland, but overall, our panel gave this brand a thumbs up for its "good" and "not-too-salty" flavor. It did lose points, however, due to its "goopy" consistency.

Score: 2.2 out of 5What WD had to say: Meant to be mixed with a splash of milk, this $10.95 contender was the fanciest of the bunch, but that didn't win it any points. While nearly all of the reviewers agreed it had a "good" smell and texture, its deep color—"like curry"—and meaty flavor—likened to beef—weren't a big hit.

Score: 2.3 out of 5What WD had to say: There wasn't much our panel agreed on here. Some thought the flavor was tasty—"Tastes like dark meat"; "Tastes like stuffing!"—others found it to be "floury," with a "weird aftertaste." The consistency was deemed too thick by some, while others liked it. However, everyone agreed that the bits of turkey in the mix were overkill.

Score: 1.3 out of 5What WD had to say: The texture was well-received by the panel, but no one could get past the taste. All the reviewers found it to have an unappealing flavor, which was deemed "citrusy," across the board.